VILLARSIA NYMPHOIDES. NYMPH.EA-LFKE
VILLARSIA.
VILLARSIAnympkoides; foliis cordatis orbiculatis natantibus, floribus umbellatis, corollis ciliatis. Vent
VILLARSIA nymphoides. Vent. Ckoix, n. 9-P- 2. Decand. Fl. Fr. cd. 3. vol. 3. p . 648. Fl. Gall.
Syn.p. 243. Ram. et Schultz. Syst. Veg. ml. 4 ,p . 178.
MENYANTHES nymphoides. Linn. Sp. PI. p. 207- Huds. Angl. p. 85. With. Bot A r r ed 4
ml. 2. p. 231. (Ed. Fl. Dan. t. 339. Hoffm. Germ. ed. 2. vol. 1. P. I. 9 6
Willd. Sp. PI. vol. 2. p. 810. Smith Fl. Brit, p 226. Engl. Bot. t. 217. Pers.
Syn. PI. vol. 1. p. 171. Ait. Hort. Keto. ed. 2. vol. l . p. 3 1 2 .
NYMPHjEA lutea; minor, flore fimbriato. The lesser yellow Water-Lily with a fringed flower. Raii
Syn. p. 368.
Class and Order. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
[Natural Order. GENTIANE2E, Decand. LYSIMACHIIS AFFINIS, Juss. GENTIAN FIS A F
TJTVTTO T>~ H "
Gen. Char. Calyx quinque-partitus, persistens. Corolla rotata, limbo saepius ciliato. Stylus brevissimus. Cap.
sula uni-locularis, bi-valvis (in aquaticis evalvis, Br.) valvularum margihibus incrassatis. Receptaculum in su-
turis capsulffi. Semina duplici serie longitudinaliter digesta, margine membranaceo cincla. Vent.
Gen. Char. Calyx five-partite, persistent. Corolla rotate, with the limb often ciliated. Style very short. Capsule
one-celled, two-valved (in the aquatic species valveless, Br.), with the margins of the valves incrassated
Receptacle along the suture of the capsule. Seeds collected longitudinally in a double row, and surrounded bv
a membranaceous margin. Vent. ^ 3
Caules longissimi, flagelliformes, teretes, flexuosi, ra-
mosi, hie illic fibras prselongas simplices albidas
■ emittentes.
Folia plerumque fasciculata, natantia, cordata, rotun-
data, lobis obtpsis; supra viridia, I as via, nitida,
venosa; subtus purpurascentia, punctata, avenia,
margine repanda, vix dentata; petioli longiusculi,
teretes, basi insigniter dilatati, concavi,. vagi-
nati, punctis elevatis adspersi.
Pedunculi ex axillis foliorum, fasciculati, simplices,
h> vel quadri-unciales, teretes, uniflori.
Flores magni, speciosi, aurei.
Calyx profunde quinque-partitus, laciniis erecto-paten-
tibus, lanceolatis, acutis.
Corolla rotata; tubo brevi, intus parce piloso, basi
fasciculis quinque pilorum instructo; laciniis
ovato-rotundatis undulatis, patentibus; disco ob-
longo, elevato; marginibus pulcherrime ciliatis.
Stamina quinque, tubo corollas inserta; Filamenta
brevia, tubo adnata; Anther® sagittatas, flav®.
PlSTlLLUM tubo coroll® longius; Germen ovatum,
basi glandulis quinque flavis; Stylus crassus ;
Stigma bi-trifidum ; laciniis incisis.
Fig. 1. Corolla laid open to show the situation of the s
Fig. 2. Calyx and pistil. Fig. 3. Stamen before tfc
after the bursting of the cells. Fig. 5. Pistil, with th
show the situation of its ovules. Fig. 7. Cluster of i
magnified.
Stems very long, flagelliform, terete, flexuose, branched,
here and there throwing out very long, simple
white fibres.
Leaves generally in fascicles, natant, cordate, rounded,
with the lobes obtuse; above green, smooth, shining,
veined; beneath purplish, dotted, veinless,
with the margin repand, scarcely toothed ; petioles
rather long, terete, remarkably dilated at
the base, concave, sheathed, marked with elevated
points on small tubercles.
Peduncles springing from the axils of the leaves, fasciculated,
simple, three or four inches long,
rouuded, single-flowered.
Flowers large, showy, bright yellow.
Calyx deeply five-partite, with the segments erecto-
patent, lanceolate, acute.
Corolla rotate; with the tube short, slightly hairy
within, furnished at the base with five bundles
of hairs; the segments ovato-rotundate, waved
patent, having the disc oblong, elevated, and the
margins beautifully ciliated.
Stamens five, inserted into the tube of the corolla ; Filaments
short, adnate with the tube; Anthers
sagittate, yellow.
Pistil longer than the tube of the corolla; Germen
ovate, with five yellow glands at the base; Style
thick; Stigmabi-trifid, with the segments divided,
amens, and the fascicles o f hairs alternating with them
■ bursting o f the cells of the anther. Fig. 4. Stamen
glands at the base. Fig. 6. Section of the germen, to
airs, from between the filaments of the stamens:—all
This plant is a beautiful and rather unfrequent inhabitant of lakes, canals, and slow streams of rivers in various
parts of England, principally the midland and southern counties. We have gathered it abundantly in the canal
between Wisbech and Downham-Market, Norfolk, and in the lesser tributary rivulets to the Thames. It has never
been found in Scotland, or further north than Castle Howard, Yorkshire, although it does not appear that the climate
of that country would be inimical to its growth, as the rapidity of its increase, wherever planted, renders it a
vCTy troublesome weed. In the botanic garden at Glasgow, whence the present specimen was brought the Frinved
ViUarsm has thriven and increased to such a degree, as to choke and destroy many more delicate Aquatics, and
to render its own eradication nearly impossible. *
It flowers in the months of June and July. The canals in Holland are bordered and decorated for miles with
the lovely blossoms of the Villarsia nymphoides, wreathed, in the greatest profusion, with those o f the White and
Yellow Water-lilies.
Doubtless, as a genus, the Villarsia approaches very near to Menyanthes, differing, as Mr. Brown observes Drin
cipally in the want of the longitudinally bearded disk of the segments of the corolla, in the ciliated margin, and simple
leaves. All the species, however, of this genus, and there are several, have a very natural habit, and an aspect
remarkably different from Menyanthes, which now contains but one species. If we were to be guided by nrioritv
of date, in bestowing a name, I fear that Villarsia must give place to Lmthemum, which Sir James E. Smith tells
us was established for this plant, bv Gmelin, so long ago as 1 7 # . Wiggers, again, applied to it, in i780 the
appellation of TValdschmidia, and Ventenat, in his Chouv de Plantes, tab. 9, instituted the genus Villarsia for the
Menyanthes ovata, and its allies; in doing which he has been followed, amongst other authors, by our coun
try man Brown. Thus, although in strict justice this genus should bear another name, yet it would seem that
Villarsia bids fair' to keep its ground.
The ripe fruit of this plant I have not myself seen. In the advanced germen there is certainly no appearance
or a suture, which seems to confirm Mr. Browns observation that the aquatic species of this genus are valveless •
notwithstanding that Ventenat, who knew only the aquatic species (two), affirms that the seeds are collected in two
rows at the margin of the valves.